Skip to content
ESCO occupation

social work assistant

Back to ESCO occupations

Social work assistants are practice-based professionals who promote social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. Social work assistants assist guiding staff, helping clients to use services to claim benefits, access community resources, find jobs and training, obtain legal advice or deal with other local authority departments. They assist and work together with social workers.

3412.5 ISCO 3412 ESCO source
Competences
52
Groups
3
Essential
24
Optional
28

Competences and skills

52 ESCO relations
Essential skills and competences 24 competences

Occupation specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Sector-specific

14 competences
apply person-centred care

Treat individuals as partners in planning, developing and assessing care, to make sure it is appropriate for their needs. Put them and their caregivers at the heart of all decisions.

ESCO source
apply problem solving in social service

Systematically apply a step-by-step problem-solving process in providing social services.

ESCO source
apply quality standards in social services

Apply quality standards in social services while upholding social work values and principles.

ESCO source
assess social service users' situation

Assess the social situation of service users situation balancing curiosity and respect in the dialogue, considering their families, organisations and communities and the associated risks and identifying the needs and resources, in order to meet physical, emotional and social needs.

ESCO source
build helping relationship with social service users

Develop a collaborative helping relationship, addressing any ruptures or strains in the relationship, fostering bonding and gaining service users` trust and cooperation through empathic listening, caring, warmth and authenticity.

ESCO source
contribute to protecting individuals from harm

Use established processes and procedures to challenge and report dangerous, abusive, discriminatory or exploitative behaviour and practice, bringing any such behaviour to the attention of the employer or the appropriate authority.

ESCO source
deliver social services in diverse cultural communities

Deliver services which are mindful of different cultural and language traditions, showing respect and validation for communities and being consistent with policies regarding human rights and equality and diversity.

ESCO source
follow health and safety precautions in social care practices

Ensure hygienic work practice, respecting the safety of the environment at day care, residential care settings and care at home.

ESCO source
maintain records of work with service users

Maintain accurate, concise, up-to-date and timely records of the work with service users while complying with legislation and policies related to privacy and security.

Scope note
It includes digitally recorded notes.
ESCO source
meet standards of practice in social services

Practice social care and social work in a lawful, safe and effective way according to standards.

ESCO source
prevent social problems

Prevent social problems from developing, defining and implementing actions that can prevent social problems, striving for the enhancement of the quality of life for all citizens.

ESCO source
promote service users' rights

Supporting client`s rights to control his or her life, making informed choices about the services they receive, respecting and, where appropriate, promoting the individual views and wishes of both the client and his or her caregivers.

ESCO source
protect vulnerable social service users

Intervene to provide physical, moral and psychological support to people in dangerous or difficult situations and to remove to a place of safety where appropriate.

ESCO source
review social service plan

Review social service plans, taking your service users' views and preferences into account. Follow up on the plan, assessing the quantity and quality of services provided.

ESCO source

Cross-sector

10 competences
communicate professionally with colleagues in other fields

Communicate professionally and cooperate with members of the other professions in the health and social services sector.

ESCO source
communicate with social service users

Use verbal, non-verbal, written, and electronic communication. Pay attention to the specific social service users' needs, characteristics, abilities, preferences, age, developmental stage, and culture.

ESCO source
listen actively

Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.

ESCO source
manage ethical issues within social services

Apply social work ethical principles to guide practice and manage complex ethical issues, dilemmas and conflicts in accordance to occupational conduct, the ontology and the code of ethics of the social services occupations, engaging in ethical decision making by applying standards of national and, as applicable, international codes of ethics or statements of principles.

ESCO source
manage social crisis

Identify, respond and motivate individuals in social crisis situations, in a timely manner, making use of all resources.

ESCO source
plan social service process

Plan the social service process, defining the objective and considering the methods of implementation, identifying and accessing available resources, such as time, budget, personnel and defining indicators to evaluate the outcome.

ESCO source
provide social counselling

Assist and guide social service users to resolve personal, social or psychological problems and difficulties.

ESCO source
provide support to social services users

Help social service users identify and express their expectations and strengths, providing them with information and advice to make informed decisions about their circumstances. Give support to achieve change and improve life opportunities.

ESCO source
relate empathetically

Recognise, understand and share emotions and insights experienced by another.

ESCO source
work in a multicultural environment in health care

Interact, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.

ESCO source
Optional knowledge 12 competences

Occupation specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Sector-specific

1 competence
client-centred counselling

Practice that encourages clients to concentrate on how they feel at the present moment during the counseling session in order to search for the most appropriate solutions.

ESCO source

Cross-sector

11 competences
adolescent psychological development

The developments needs of children and young persons, their behaviour and the attachment relationships and the possible signs of developmental delay.

ESCO source
communication

The exchange and conveying of information, ideas, concepts, thoughts, and feelings through the use of a shared system of words, signs, and semiotic rules via a medium.

ESCO source
community education

Programs targeting the social development and learning of individuals in their own community, through a variety of formal or informal education methods.

ESCO source
consultation

The theories, methods and concepts related to consultation and communication with clients.

ESCO source
counselling methods

Counselling techniques used in different settings and with various groups and individuals, especially concerning methods of supervision and mediation in the counselling process.

ESCO source
crisis intervention

Coping strategies in crisis cases which allow individuals to overcome their problems or fears and avoid psychological distress and breakdown.

ESCO source
developmental psychology

The study of human behaviour, performance, and psychological development from infancy to adolescence.

ESCO source
health care system

The structure and function of health care services.

ESCO source
legal requirements in the social sector

The prescribed legislative and regulatory requirements in the social sector.

ESCO source
social sciences

The development and characteristics of sociological, anthropological, psychological, political, and social policy theories.

ESCO source
social work theory

The development and characteristics of social work theories underpinned by social sciences and humanities.

ESCO source
Optional skills and competences 16 competences

Occupation specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Sector-specific

10 competences
apply crisis intervention

Respond methodologically to a disruption or breakdown in the normal or usual function of a person, family, group or community.

ESCO source
apply holistic approach within social services

Consider the social service user in any situation, recognising the connections between micro-dimension, meso-dimension, and macro-dimension of social problems, social development and social policies.

ESCO source
assess clients' drug and alcohol addictions

Interview clients and assess their addictions in order to establish an appropriate plan for action.

ESCO source
assist families in crisis situations

Help families by counselling them on how to cope with serious situations, where to find more specialised assistance and services that can help them overcome the family problems.

ESCO source
conduct interview in social service

Induce clients, colleagues, executives, or public officials to talk fully, freely, and truthfully, so as to explore the interviewee`s experiences, attitudes, and opinions.

ESCO source
develop professional identity in social work

Strive to provide the appropriate services to social work clients while staying within a professional framework, understanding what the work means in relation to other professionals and taking into account the specific needs of your clients.

ESCO source
empower individuals, families and groups

Empower individuals, families and groups towards healthy lifestyles and self-care.

ESCO source
empower social service users

Enable individuals, families, groups and communities to gain more control over their lives and environment, either by themselves or with the help of others.

ESCO source
engage with offenders

Work with offenders to promote social change, challenge their offending behaviour and stop its recurrence.

ESCO source
identify mental health issues

Recognise and critically evaluate any possible mental health/illness issues.

ESCO source

Cross-sector

6 competences
communicate by telephone

Liaise via telephone by making and answering calls in a timely, professional and polite manner.

ESCO source
comply with legislation related to health care

Comply with the regional and national health legislation which regulates relations between suppliers, payers, vendors of the healthcare industry and patients, and the delivery of healthcare services.

ESCO source
give constructive feedback

Provide founded feedback through both criticism and praise in a respectful, clear, and consistent manner. Highlight achievements as well as mistakes and set up methods of formative assessment to evaluate work.

ESCO source
plan schedule

Develop the schedule including procedures, appointments and working hours.

ESCO source
promote inclusion

Promote and respect diversity, and advocate for equal treatment of genders, ethnicities and minority groups in organisations in order to prevent discrimination and ensure inclusion and a positive environment.

ESCO source
use foreign languages in patient care

Communicate in foreign languages with healthcare users, their carers, or services providers. Use foreign languages to faciliate patient care according to the needs of the patient.

ESCO source